Detachable hitching device.



W. HAZZARD. DETAOHABLE HITGHING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. 1908:

937,800, Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

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APBLIOATION FILED MAY 25. 1908.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

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WALTER HAZZARD, OF BERLIN, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

DETACI-IABLE HITCHING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

Application filed May 25, 1908. Serial No. 434,968.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER HAZZARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berlin, in the county of Coos, State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Detachable Hitching Devices; and .I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap pertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improvements in detachable hitching devices for horses, and it has more particular reference to a hitching device constructed to automatically release the horse upon a forward pull, and designed for especial use in fire engine stations.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding parts are designated by the same reference niunerals throughout the several views.

()f the said drawings, Figure 1 is a detail elevation of the hitching device as an entirety. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a view showing the hitching device proper in position to automatically disengage the halter ring. Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the hitching device per 80.

In the drawings, there is shown a tubular strap 5, through which passes a rope or simi lar flexible element 6, which projects beyond the strap 5 at each end. The strap 5 at one end carries a ring 7 designed for attachment to a stationary part of the stall, and at its other end carries the hitching device 8, which latter includes a base plate 9 provided at one end with an offset eye 10 detachably connected with the strap 5, and at its other end with spaced cars 11, between which is pivoted the end of a curved latch member 12, the ears being formed by bifurcating the base-plate at such point. 'The latch is designed for engagement with the halter ring and co-acts with the adjacent portion of the plate 9 to afford a closed loop, in which use, it will be understood that the latch is swung rearwardly upon the plate. The said latch 12 terminates at its free end in an extended flat-faced lug 13, which acts as a stop for the movement of the latch upon said plate, and which likewise is designed for engagement by a sliding bolt 14. The latter is movable through alined apertured lugs 15 formed upon the upper face of the base plate and is held in engagement with the lug 13 by an expansive coil spring 16 which bears against the rearmost lug 15 and against a pin 17 provided upon the bolt 14. Said bolt 14, at its rear end, is formed with an enlarged eye port-ion 18 which is designed for attachment to the adjacent end of the rope 6. The eye portion above referred to includes a depending shoulder 19 formed integral therewith, the lower portion of the shoulder projecting into a longitudinal groove 20 which is formed in the base-plate and terminates adjacent the rearmost lug 15, thus limiting the movement of the bolt 14 under the tension of the spring 16. The rope 6 at its other end carries a snap hook 21 for engagement with a staple or other attaching device carried by I a part of the stall.

That portion of the base plate upon which the lug 13 rests has preferably formed therein a rounded seat 22 whose depth is slightly greater than half the thickness of said lug, the formation of the seat positively preventing any lateral movement of the latch, as will be apparent. This seat communicates with a vertical groove 24, formed in the front face of the adjacent lug 15 so as to receive the extreme end of the lug 13.

In use, the strap 5 is fastened by means of the ring .7, and the rope 6 has its snap hook 21 fastened rearwardly of said ring.

The horse has freedom for backward move ment for a distance corresponding to the length of the strap 5, but when the stall doors are opened and the horse moves forwardly, the rope 6 will be drawn taut, and the bolt 14 will be pulled rearwardly against the tension of the spring 16, so as to disengage the lug 13 and allow the latch 12 to be swung forwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby permitting of the halter ring being freed from the device 8, the entire action being automatic.

An arbitrary use of the invention has been described, but it is to be understood that the invention may be used in connection with horse hitching, in other applications than that herein described, without departing from its spirit or basic principles of construction.

YVhat is claimed is:

1. A device of the type set forth, comprising in combination a tubular strap, an attaching ring carried at one end thereof, a Y

rope passing through said strap and' projecting therebeyond at each end, a snap hook carried at one end of said rope, and a hitching device carried at the other end of said strap and comprising a plate having an ofiset eye portion at one end detachably secured to the end of said strap and a bifurcation at the other end, a curved member having its end pivoted in said bifurcation, said curved member being arranged to swing outwardly from said plate and having its free end formed with a lug, said plate being formed with apertured alined lugs, a spring held bolt slidable through said alined lugs and normally engaged with the lug of said curved member, and an eye portion formed at the rear end of said bolt for attachment to said rope, said eye portion normally engaging the adjacent lug on said plate as a stop.

- 2. The combination, in a hitching device, of a base plate provided with a pair of spaced apertured lugs, said plate having a seat formed therein at the foot of the front lug, and a longitudinal groove terminating at one end at the foot of the rear lug, the first mentioned lug being formed with a vertical groove communicating with said seat; a bent latch pivoted at its front end to the plate and having its rear end arranged for reception in said seat and vertical groove; a bolt slidable through said apertured lugs into and out of engagement with the rear end of the latch, the rear end of said bolt terminating in a depending shoulder projecting into said longitudinal groove; and a spring carried by saidbolt for normally holding the same in engagement with said latch, and said shoulder in contact with said rear lug.

In testimony whereof, I afliX my signature,

in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER HAZZARD. Vitnesse u. H. PAINE, MARY SHERIDAN. 

